This year’s Talent
Show (2012) was the best yet, we had singing from
young and old alike, readings from comedy and facts to Bible scriptures, also
puppets shows and all different kinds of skits. This is our third annual talent
show and this is the first year that we actually had a curtain so that we could
set up each new act. It was REALLY FUN!! After the show we had refreshments and
the actors got to mingle with the audience. Click here
to see some pictures.
Church Thanksgiving 2011 was a blessing
to all who attended. We made it a time of Thanks and a time of Giving. After
all, that’s what Thanksgiving is meant to be about. Pastor Ralph gave his
annual Thanksgiving sermon and we all agreed that a day set aside is a good
thing but that everyday is actually a day for giving
thanks. After the service we had the Special fellowship Thanksgiving meal. Wow!
Thank God that we had more than enough and are also blessed with some very
good cooks. During the meal we took
turns relating some of the things we are thankful for. God is so good! Take a
look at some pictures here.
Our Church in the park
was so very nice; we had perfect weather and we were right next to the
playground. The cool breezes were welcome. The Bible study, worship service
(including music) and sermon were very fulfilling. Oh! And we don’t want to
forget the children’s Sabbath school; we had seven in attendance for that as
well. The children’s lesson was about Jonah and they made a nice craft to play
with at home as well. The cook, Shawn, was grilling away. We had a variety of
foods from hotdogs to hamburgers and veggie burgers with all the fixings,
different kinds of salads and roasted corn on the cob. YUMMY! Everyone enjoyed the visiting and the
children played Frisbee and played at the playground as well. I heard from the
children that pastor Ralph even went down the slide, too bad I didn’t get a
picture of that. All in all it was a very nice Sabbath to remember. See
pictures here.
Well our 4th of July BBQ and
Fireworks were REALLY FUN! We didn’t have very many people show up, but the
families that did, had fun and it seemed like we had known all of them for a
long time as family, even they, themselves were saying
that. We had burgers, hot dogs, veggie burgers, chips, potato salad, dessert
and drinks. We had sparklers and pops for the children to do before the
fountain fireworks were set off. In between all of that we had our drawing for
our door prizes. All the winners were very pleased needless to say. One little
girl was thanking her dad for bringing them there and she was having a lot of
fun (she was 8 years old). Praise God! We put some happiness into some families lives and showed the love of Jesus as we did. See
pictures here.
Vacation Bible School
2011! Wow what a great event. Our
Vacation Bible School was REMARKABLE! Shawn, our new Youth Minister and his
wife Nadia made it happen after only two months. They had some excellent help
from Barbara and Nikki. Pretty good when you consider more than two years of
talk never brought us a VBS! We must remember with God involved in anything you
do, it is possible. The new youth leadership put a fleece out to the Lord and
it was answered and the Lord gave our church a room for the children to meet in
and even gave it to us free of charge. Praise God! We handed out around 600
door hangers and flyers. With God‘s leading and our own initiative we had a
very good VBS. This was our first one and it was a very interesting week, from
bathroom lines to playing Bible bingo and everything in between. We prayed
together, read together, ate together, sang together,
played together and yes some argued together. When it comes to fellowship this
was time to be remembered. Yes, that is what we all had this week and made some
new friends too. We explored new things also, like missionary stories and how
to find a book, chapter and verse in the Bible. We also have an understanding
of why we get baptized and what it symbolizes and if we ask God for anything He
hears us and is there for us. “If we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us” 1 John 5:14 (KJV). Our VBS graduation
was on July 2nd all the children and parents were there, we had an overflowing
room, people were standing outside of the room and
some in the foyer. We had children volunteering to say their memory verses in
the graduation program, more than we needed, they all wanted to do something
and their singing was heavenly. The picture slide show was great as well,
showing some things that we did during the week. We all thanked God for what He
did. Click here to see the VBS graduation
class photo.
The Hanley Farm trip was a great
success!! It was June 4th 2011 and an absolutely beautiful day; a
little warm wind and some overcast made it just right. There were twenty people
that came and eight of them were children. We fed chickens, went on a hayride,
ate fresh churned butter on crackers and even watched a comedy pioneer show.
The children did that and much more. There were many different kinds of crafts
at tables all around the area, which were included in the price of just $4.00
and adults were free, who could ask for anything better? God’s creation was
evident wherever you looked and the kids felt the wonder of the natural beauty
manifested at the farm. It was a lovely day of refreshing fellowship among
brethren and a lot of fun. See
the old barn here.
Billed as The
Greatest Little Talent Show in Town it lived up to the hype! January 15th
2011 turned out to be a day to be remembered. If having fun were a sin, this
church would be in big trouble! I'm thinking of all the fun we had
entertaining, and being entertained at The Greatest Little Talent Show in Town.
The entire show was truly priceless, in all ways. We pretty much had it all:
Inspirational readings, original poetry, wonderful religious songs both vocal
and instrumental, standup comedy, humorous skits and even a riddle. We didn’t
miss much. Perhaps next year we can add hand puppets and a mime. Does anyone
know how to juggle? One visitor liked the show so much she put some pictures of
it on her Facebook page. This is the stuff that memories are made of. One
scripture that comes to mind is this: (Proverbs 17:22 NIV) A cheerful heart
is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. See the collage here.
Noah’s Ark. We saw it, been there, and done
that. Not, “The”
Noah’s Ark of course, but the one in Winston, Oregon. On September 25th, 2010
our church members left for an outing to Winston, OR for the afternoon. Nadia
had been telling us about the Noah’s Ark adventure in Winston for nearly two
years; so, we thought it was time to check it out. Instead of our usual weekly
potluck, we each brought a sack lunch to ‘eat-and-run’ after our regular church
services. Though, it was a sack-lunch break, we brought plenty of extra to
share; and everybody ate abundantly! Pastor Rich delivered the sermon for the
day, which kicked off our afternoon in a positive direction. After lunch, we
carpooled to consolidate the crew, and to extend our fellowship time. Upon arrival
at Noah’s Ark, our previously assigned tour guide took over. She was bible
literate, and the exhibit was well presented. After the tour, we had time to
visit on the outside deck and inside the restaurant/gift shop area. Pastor
Ralph proposed that we go to dinner at a Mexican restaurant before heading back
home; so, off we went! The food was delicious, and the company was even better.
We had a great time, and flew our own paper airplanes during and after dinner
(at least, we attempted to fly them). Our wait staff was funny and friendly,
and very good at their jobs. Once dinner was over, we headed back to Grants
Pass in our carpools, each group enjoying its own special experience. It was a
beautiful Sabbath day spent with church family. We were all blessed in so many
ways, and are looking forward to our next outing, whatever that might be. See
the group picture here.